If you work for a government agency, you've probably paid attention (or have been meaning to pay attention) to the updated ADA rulings from April 2024. In this ruling, the Department of Justice laid out specifications for digital accessibility for government sites of all sizes, from small town websites to major state portals. Whereas in the past, digital accessibility had been "required" but with imprecise requirements up for interpretation, now there are actual benchmarks: WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance.
This is a win for constituents everywhere. Parents registering children for school, veterans accessing benefits, small business owners renewing licenses—they don't just visit your website for fun. They have real-world jobs to do and decisions to make. Though more folks in government are turning their eyes toward conscious accessibility because of legal reasons, you should consider accessibility for human reasons. It's easy to spend lots of time poring over WCAG language, dissecting whether a particular requirement "may" or "must" be implemented. But your time and effort are better spent building a great user experience with accessibility considered at every level.
The good news is, most accessibility challenges on government sites are common, and they're fixable. Here are six obvious offenders and how to fix them:
One: the PDF graveyard
Due to the essential nature of legacy documents and specific rules like retention laws, government sites often act as file cabinets for libraries of PDFs, most of which are inaccessible. Any scanned documents, for instance, are simply an inscrutable image to a screen reader.
It's time to get creative with your mindset and practical with your approach.
- Get rid of as many irrelevant or outdated documents as you can first.
- Create archives to house older files that are no longer frequently referenced, making it easier to find more recent and relevant files.
- Convert the PDFs your site visitors use most into HTML pages.
Pro-tip: The root cause of your PDF overload is the process that keeps creating them. Change your workflow, and you can stop the PDF pileup before it starts.
Two: missing or vague alt text
Alt text is one of the simplest and most overlooked ways to make your website accessible. But adding alt text isn't just about ticking a box; it's about making it meaningful. Think of alt text as a way to describe the image's role in the story your page is telling.
Ask yourself: Why is this image here? What extra context does it provide? That context helps users who rely on screen readers more fully understand what they can't see.
Pro-tip: Not every image needs alt text. Mark images like background swirls or spacer graphics as "decorative" so screen readers skip them.
Three: the color contrast trap
Contrast problems are a common lawsuit trigger. If users can't see it, they can't use it. Poor color contrast is one of the most common (and costly) mistakes.
However, accessibility tools available to test color contrast make it hard to catch everything. Many tools only focus on one or a limited number of elements of the design (like testing text contrast while excluding button borders).
Pro tip: It's always best to test with multiple accessibility tools like the WebAIM Contrast Checker or browser extensions like axe DevTools.
Four: navigation that stops at the keyboard
If your navigation isn't keyboard accessible, it will be invisible to many users since the screen reader announces the elements in the same order the keyboard moves through them.
The good news is that testing your navigation for keyboard accessibility is simple. Take these steps:
- Open your website and click refresh in your browser.
- Hit your Tab key. Can you tell which element on the screen is selected?
- Hit the Tab key again. Did you move to the next element?
Pro tip: As you Tab through your navigation, make sure you can reach every element, and that the selected elements are in logical order.
Five: forms that frustrate instead of serve
From voter registration to tax payments, forms are where constituents get things done—so accessibility here is critical. Inaccessible forms are also a major source of lawsuits.
Respect your users by making all forms accessible. Always consider their experience first. Even filling out the forms to experience the process yourself will give you a better idea of what it's like for site visitors.
Pro tip: Don't use placeholder text as labels for your fields. It disappears when you click in the box, and labels should always be visible. Place labels above fields, not next to them.
Six: the "read more" problem
Unclear link text is a roadblock for everyone. A page full of "read more" links is a barrier to action for anyone, especially screen readers, which read all links in a list; the link text. While it can be hard to come up with variations on "read more" (or its sibling, "learn more"), these words tell users nothing.
Pro tip: Instead of generic link text, try linking to more relevant text, such as actual policy and document titles.
Why accessibility still falls short
Many state agencies are still falling short on web accessibility, not because they don't care, but because the deck is stacked against them. Cranky old legacy systems make modern accessibility hard (and expensive) to implement. Procurement often chases the bare minimum to "check the box" rather than creating truly inclusive experiences. Add in tight budgets, endless competing priorities, and lean teams already stretched thin, and accessibility slips down the to-do list.
On top of that, some teams don't have the know-how to tackle accessibility at its core, leading to quick fixes that never solve the real problem. Until accessibility becomes part of the culture, and not just a compliance exercise, progress will stay slow, no matter how clear the WCAG 2.1 rules get or how loud the legal pressure grows.
Build your action plan
While legal reasons may have brought you to accessibility, human reasons will keep you committed to it. Every shift toward accessibility is a good one. You can prioritize some quick wins while also making slower, steady progress toward long-term change.
For quick wins:
- Keyboard test your website.
- Audit your alt text for images on high-visibility pages first.
- Get rid of unnecessary PDFs and convert your "have to keep" documents to HTML.
For long-term change:
- Put yourself in the shoes of the people who use your site—experience accessibility tools (like screen readers) yourself.
- Create checklists for accessibility at every level of your work.
- Practice empathy for your users. Over time, this will help your agency function with an accessibility mindset, not just one centered around compliance. And that is more valuable for everyone!
Accessibility isn't just about avoiding lawsuits; it's about showing up for the people you serve. Every citizen who comes to your site arrives with a purpose: to register, apply, pay, or learn. If your site makes that process seamless, you've done more than comply with the law—you've built trust.
Contact us today to discuss how we can help your organization achieve full WCAG 2.1 AA compliance while improving user experience for everyone.